ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 February 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180001049 APPLICANT REQUESTS: to receive back pay for American Board of Pediatrics, Board Certification Pay (BCP) effective January 2014 through July 2017. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Letter from The American Board of Pediatrics, dated 2 November 2016 * Letter from The American Board of Pediatrics, dated 27 November 2017 * Email from applicant to Human Resource General Administration Specialty Pay FACTS: 1. The applicant states he is an Army Physician who is board certified in pediatrics and he has been since October 2006. The American Board of Pediatrics requires that physicians recertify every 10 years. There have been no lapses in his board certification. He had to recertify in October 2016. The Army stopped his board certification pay in December of 2013. He is seeking recoupment of board certification pay from January 2014 through July 2017. He initially certified in October 2006, the American Board of Pediatrics required recertification by exam every 7 years, however this policy was changed in 2007 requiring professional to recertify from every 7 years to every 10 years. 2. A review of the applicant’s records show: * 12 June 2002 – with prior service, he commissioned in the Regular Army * 24 October 2006 – he received certification from board of pediatrics * 1 October 2008 – he requested Medical Corps Incentive Pay * 2 November 2016 – the American Board of Pediatrics report the applicant performance on the Maintenance of Certification examination in General Pediatrics, me the passing criterion * 14 May 2013 – U.S. Army Human Resource Command (HRC) Agreement Tracking shows start and stop dates for MSP is 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2013 * 27 November 2017 – the American Board of Pediatrics confirmed he was certified in General Pediatrics * 2 June 2017 – requested Medical Corps Incentive Pay * 31 July 2018 – he retired from the Regular Army for sufficient service for retirement 3. The applicant provided the following documents in support of his request: a. Letter from The American Board of Pediatrics, dated 2 November 2016 – shows he completed and passed the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examination. b. Letter from The American Board of Pediatrics, dated 27 November 2017 – confirmed his certification with the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics c. Email from applicant to Human Resource General Administration Specialty Pay – shows the applicant requested assistance with signing for his annual contract bonuses. He states he just noticed he had not received his board certification pay. He checked his Leave and Earnings Statement(s) going back to 2015 and it was not paid. He reports he has been board certified since 2006. d. Email response from HRC Specialty Pay, General Administration representative states according to the applicant’s BCP history the last payment he received was on 31 December 2013. According to OTSG (Office of The Surgeon General) and regulations he must provide evidence of re-certification in order to continue to receive BCP, failure to do so will result in termination of BCP. 4. See References below: BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of service, the terms of his 2009 agreement, the 2017 letter confirming his certification, the correspondence with the general administration official at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the applicant’s retirement. The Board found insufficient evidence of the applicant’s certification for the period of his requested specialty pay. Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the termination of his Board Certification Pay was not in error or unjust. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING :X :X :X DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 10/29/2020 X CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. REFERENCE: Title 37 USC, section 335(c) (Board Certification Incentive Pay) states the Secretary concerned may pay board certification incentive pay under this section to a Regular or Reserve Component of a uniformed service who is board certified in a designated health profession specialty or skill and is on active duty or in an active status in such designated health profession specialty or skill. Board certification pay may not exceed $6,000.00 for each 12-month period. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//